Shirt decorating device



Oct. 6, 1964 c. M. CHAMBON 3,151,332

SHIRT DECORATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12. 1961 Ergj 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. CARL N. CHAN/30M BY 4 TORNEY Oct. 6, 1964 c. M. CHAMBON3,151,332

SHIRT DECORATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 12.. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.CARL M.CH/-)I1BON ATTORN E y United States Patent 3,151,332 SHIRTDECORATDIG DEVICE Carl M. 'Chamhon, 750 Warwick Ave., Oakland, Calif.Filed Sept. 12, 1%1, Ser. No. 137,578 3 Claims. (El. 2-128) Theinvention relates to the decoration of the front of an outer shirt of adress or sports type and particularly to the provision of a simulatednecktie on such a shirt.

Upper outer garments of the nature of mens shirts used for dress orcasual wear are customarily provided with turned-down collars extendingfrom neck openings defined by neck bands of varied hei hts, or lackingneck bands, whereby many of such shirt structures do not readily lendthemselves to the mounting thereof of a threedimension four-in-handnecktie as comprising a usual type of decoration for the fronts of suchshirts. Furthermore, the portions of a four-in-hand necktie dependingfrom the knot of a neck-encircling mounting band portion, or othersupport means for such a tie, and being usually unattached to and alongan exposed shirt front may interfere with physical activities of thewearers, and it is therefore a general object of the present inventionto unitariiy provide a simulation of the knot and depending tie portionof a necktie on the shirt front in lieu of mounting the actual articleon the shirt.

Another object is to pictorially provide a simulated four-in-handnecktie on a shirt front which will appear, to a maximum degree, as anactual necktie separately mounted on the shirt.

A further object is to fixedly provide a necktie simulation at a shirtfront in particularly simple and effective manners.

Yet another object is to provide a four-in-hand necktie simulation whichhas the appearance of a separate necktie while comprising an integralpart of a carrying shirt structure.

A more specific object is to originally and separately provide a necktiesimulation of the character described as an article of manufacture whichis unitarily attachable to a shirt front for carrying out theshirt-decorating objectives of my invention.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in thefollowing description of typical embodiments thereof, and in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing one embodiment of thepresent shirt-decorating means as applied to the front of a dress shirt.

FIGURE 2 shows the shirt of FIGURE 1 as worn by a person.

FIGURE 3 shows the front of a fla tened-out blank member providing ashirt-decorating necktie simulating means of the present device.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged section taken at the line 44 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the blank of FIGURE 3showing attaching portions of the blank directed inwardly and rearwardlyof the decorative means of the blank.

IGURE 6 is a plan section at the scale of FIGURE 4 showing the blankmember of FIGURE 3 partially mounted on an outer shirt-front edgeportion.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE'I for illustrating adifferent manner of applying a present shirt front decoration to a sportshirt.

FIGURE 8 is a view showing the sport shirt of FIG- URE 7 as being wornwith its upper front portion left open.

. FIGURE 9 is an enlarged section taken at the line 99 in FIGURE 7.'

FIGURE 10 is a section corresponding to FIGURE 9 but lacking one displayfeature included in the embodiment of FIGURES 7 to 9.

In general, my invention contemplates the provision of a decorativedesign comprising a pictorial simulation of a necktie, or otherdecorative article, on the front of a shirt at the location at which thepictured article might be mounted for its viewing from in front of theshirt. For carrying out my invention in its illustrated forms, apictorial simulation ll. of a formed four-in-hand necktie showing a knotportion ill-K and a lower depending portion ll-L of a formedfour-in-hand necktie is shown as variously provided in the normally wornposition for such a necktie with respect to a shirt. Preferably, but notessentially, the necktie simulation 11 may be provided by printing thesame from a photo-lithograph plate providing a facsimile of a simulatednecktie as it would originally appear on the shirt during its wearing,whereby the viewed simulation may generally appear as the originalnecktie, particularly if the simulation is provided on or in front of,the outer face of the adjacent shirt material, it being understood,however, that the simulation or facsimile might be hand-painted orotherwise provided on the shirt structure.

By particular reference to the disclosure of FIGURES l to 6 inclutive,it will be noted that said figures illustrate the application of oneembodiment of my invention to the front of a dress shirt S1 which isopenable down its front at mutually lapped outer and inner frontportions A and B of the cloth, or other flexible, shirt material C whichwould usually be of uniform texture and design and/or color at itsdisplayed outer face, as indicated in FIGURE 1. At its neck-receivingopening, the present shirt 8-1 is provided with a down-turned collar Dwhich may more or less taper in height from its rear to its front endsat the top of the lapped front shirt portions A and B. Also, as isusual, at side edge part F of the material of the outer front portion Aof the shirt front is turned inwardly behind an opposed front part toprovide a bounding edge line G for a two-ply front hem portion H whichis arranged for its releasable shirt-closing cooperation with theopposed lapped part of the shirt front portion B by means of suitablefastening devices, as buttons 1, arranged in a line which does notnecessarily correspond to the central front line of the shirt oppositeand along which hem portion H a separate shirt-mounted four-inhand tiestructure would normally extend in laterally centered relation to thelatter line.

By further reference to the disclosure of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to6 inclusive, it will be noted that said figures illustrate theapplication of a simulation of a typical four-in-hand necktie to thefront of the dress shirt 8-1 by suitably providing a facsimile ll ofsuch a necktie on the outer or display face of a prepared and originallyseparate member 12 which, for a reason to be hereinafter brought out,preferably comprises a piece or blank of the shirt material C bearing anecktie simulation 11 and mounted on the hem part 1-1 of the shirt. Asparticularly illustrated, the blank piece 12 is of rectangular outlineof appropriate length, and preferably has the necktie simulation 11provided on the outer side thereof within the boundary of a rectangularintermediate part 13 defined between rectangular parts 14 and 15 oftheblaiik which are coterrninous with the part 13 along straightparallel bounding side lines In and 17 respectively which comprise theside edge lines of the depicted simulation 11 and define bend lines forreference in the mounted application vice, the width ofthe area 13between the simulation side edge lines 16 and 17 of the member 12 ispreferably at least double that of the distance of the hem edge G fromthe front center line of the front shirt hem H, whereby a rearward andinward folding of the side portions 14 and 15 of the member 12 at thelines 16 and 17 opposite the portion 13 is arranged to form boundingside edges 16' and 17 for the latter portion as defining thereattransverse edges for the simulated necktie 11, while the side portions14 and 15 of the member 12 are utilized for attaching the member to theshirt front at the shirt hem part H. As is brought out in FIGURES 4 to 6inclusive, the portion 14 of the member 12 may be directly secured toand flat against the outer side of the hem H by stitching 18 at anappropriate point thereof while the remainder of the member extendstransversely from the hem (FIGURE 6), after which the member may beswung to and against the front of the hem (FIGURE 4) and around its edgeG, with the part 15 of the member preferably secured to and along therear hem part F by concealed stitching 19, whereby the simulated necktie11 then appears as unattached to the shirt while edge thickness isindicated at both side edges of the mounted simulated tie 11 as by anactual necktie.

By particular reference to the provision and mounting of a member 12providing a necktie simulation of appropriate width for mounting on thefront hem of a shirt in centered relation to the front center line ofthe shirt, it will be noted that the provision of such members 12 on thematerial of a shirt having a distinctive color and/or design pattern atits exposed face completes the illusion of the presence of an actualnecktie, since the triangular portion of the blank area 13 between thesimulated tie parts 11-K and 11-L then matches the adjacent shirtmaterial. Furthermore, it will be understood that the present members 12advantageously comprise articles of independent manufacture providingsimulations of neckties of different design for their original orsubstitute stitched-on mounting on the fronts of shirts of materialshaving the same or different patterns and/or colors than those of themember blanks for accomplishing major present purposes in theshirt-decorating art.

Having the member 12 fixedly and unitarily mounted in the describedmanner on the front of a shirt at its hem H, it will be understood thatthe outer shirt front portion A may be attached to the inner shirt frontportion B for a closing of the shirt by suitable releasable attachingdevices which, as indicated in FIGURE 4, may comprise buttons I carriedby the portion B and operatively engagcable through button holes Iprovided in the rearward hem part F. Also, when a present member 12providing a necktie simulation 11 is integrally fixed on and along thehem portion H of a shirt being worn, the natural outward bowing or othershaping of the shirt front opposite the wearers chest will enhance thedesired illusion that an actual necktie is being worn with the shirt,and such an illusion may be further enhanced by applying or depictingarticles K of decorative jewelry or the like at the mounted simulation,as is indicated in FIGURE 2.

By particular reference to the disclosures of FIGURES 7 to inclusive, itwill be noted that said figures illustrate different and generallysimpler applications of different necktie simulations 11 to the materialat the front hem of a usual sport shirt S2 having its structuralelements corresponding to those of the shirt S1 of FIG- URES 1 to 6 and,for descriptive convenience, correspondingly designated. The presentshirt S2 is openable down its front at mutually lapped outer and innerfront portions A and B of the cloth, or other flexible, shirt material Cwhich would usually be of uniform texture and color design at itsdisplayed outer face portion. At its upper neck-receiving opening, theshirt S2 provides a collar D which tapers in height from its rear to itsfront ends at the top of the mutually lapped front shirt portions A andB. Also, as is usual, a side edge part F of the material at the outerfront portion of the shirt front is turned inwardly and secured behindsaid front portion to provide a transverse bounding edge G for a shirtfront hem portion H. Said two-ply front hem part H is arranged for itsreleasable shirt-closing attachment to the opposed lapped shirt frontportion B by means of suitable fastening devices, as buttons I, mountedon the portion B. As shown, the front portion A mounts a button I forsecuring engagement through the eye of a flexible loop L which extendsfrom an upper corner of the hem H, and other but tons I below the upperbutton I are arranged to cooperate with button holes I in the hemstructure in a line which does not necessarily correspond to the centralfront line of the shirt.

By further reference to the disclosure of the embodiments of FIGURES 7to 10 inclusive, it will be noted that said figures illustrateapplications of a four-in-hand necktie simulation 11 to the shirtmaterial C at the front of the hem H of the present sport shirt S2 bysuitably and directly providing it by printing or otherwise on and alonga rectangular area 23 of the shirt material C at the outer face of saidhem. Preferably, and as shown, the knot portion 11-K and dependingportion 11-L of said simulation 11 extend between mutually parallelbounding side lines 26 and 27 delineating the sides of the area 23, withthe line 27 registering with the transverse edge G of the hem H whilethe line 26 defines the other edge of a simulation 11 which ispreferably of such a width that its center line lies opposite the centerline of the shirt front for a symmetrical presentation of the simulationon the shirt. Since, however, by reference to the sectional showing ofFIGURE 10, the line 26 represents a simulation side edge without theprovision of any thickness of shirt material C thereat for providing atransverse edge corresponding to the hem edge 16 of FIGURE 4, it will beunderstood that, even if the imprinted edge line 26 is relatively heavyand continuous between the simulation portions 11K and 11-1., theillusion of a tie edge solely defined by said line in FIGURE 10 does notstructurally correspond to that at the simulation edge line 26.

Understanding from the foregoing that an actual transverse bounding edgeat the printed side line 26 of a simulation 11 is desirably provided bya present shirt structure S2, FIGURES 7 to 9 disclose a means forstructurally providing this feature. Accordingly, an appropriate portionof the shirt material C at the outer shirt front A adjacent and beyondthe line 26 thereon is pleated to provide a flattened andstitched-through multi-lamination pleat portion 31 extending from theline 26 toward the line 27 at the hem edge G to define at the formerline a transverse hem edge 32 which corresponds to said transverse hemedge 16' of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 6, whereby the presenttie-simulation area 23 is defined between the lines 26 and 27 at thetransverse hem edges 32 and G respectively. Also, as disclosed in FIG-URES 9 and 10, buttons .I mounted on the inner front garment portion Aare engageable in button holes I provided in the portion F at the hemstructure H thus defined and provided, whereby the connection isconcealed thereat, as is preferable.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the features and advantages of the present shirt decoratingdevice will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to whichthe invention appertains. While I have shown and described structuraland operative arrangements which I now consider to comprise preferredembodiments of my invention for carrying out the various objectivesthereof, I desire to have it understood that the showings are primarilyillustrative, and that such changes and developments may be made, whendesired, as fall within the scope of the following claims:

1. In combination with a shirt-like front-opening garment having aneckline, inner and outer front garment portions of flexible materialextending downwardly from neckline parts of the portions and havingupright bounding edges and adapted for their mutual overlapping acrossan upright front central line of the closed garment, with said edges ofthe portions disposed at opposite sides of said garment front line;means for disengagingly connecting said front garment portions in saidoverlapped relation; a member of flexible material providing arectangular zone of decorative matter between side edge portions of themember and disposed opposite and against the outer face of said outergarment portion in laterally centered relation to said central frontline of the garment; one of the member edge portions being folded underthe member and attached to the exposed outer face of the outer garmentportion while the other member edge portion is folded under the boundingedge of the outer garment portion; and a means attaching said memberedge portions to said outer garment front portion to have its decorativezone extend laterally from said bounding edge of the front garmentportion, with said attaching means comprising lines of concealedstitching.

2. In a shirt-like front-opening garment having a neckline, frontgarment portions extending downwardly from neckline parts of theportions and having upright bounding edges and adapted for their mutualoverlapping across an upright central front line of the closed garmentwith said edges of the portions disposed at opposite sides of said frontline when the garment is closed; means for disengagingly connecting saidfront garment portions in said overlapped relation while the garment isclosed; a member of flexible material having defined at the front facethereof a Zone presenting decorative matter between integrally connectedside edge parts of the member defined by straight interior and parallelside lines of the zone and disposed opposite and against the opposedface of the forward front portion of the garment with said Zone thereofin laterally centered relation to said central front line of the closedgarment and having the side edge parts of the member mutually inturnedbehind the zone portion of the member with one side edge part disposedbehind the bounding edge of the front garment portion; and a concealedmeans utilizing said inturned side parts of the member for unitarilyattaching said decorative member to said outer garment front portion tohave the decorative zone extend from said bounding edge of the frontgarment portion.

3. In a shirt-like front-opening garment having a neckline, frontgarment portions extending downwardly from neckline parts of theportions and having upright bounding edges and adapted for their mutualoverlapping across an upright front line of the closed garment with saidedges of the portions disposed at opposite sides of said front line;means disengagingly connecting said front garment portions of the closedgarment in said overlapped relation; a rectangular member of flexiblematerial having parallel longitudinal and interior lines and definingtherebetween on its front face an area presenting decorative matter ofthe member between side parts of the member; one said side part of themember being doubled back from the corresponding said line about thebounding edge of the front garment portion and the other said side partof the member being doubled back from the other said line of the member;and a means concealed from its viewing from the front of the garmentattaching said doubledback side parts of the member to said frontgarment portion, whereby the resulting bends at the outer edge lines ofthe decorative zone of the mounted member define bounding sides of thedecorative area extending transversely forwardly from the forward shirtfront portion upon which is mounted the member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS458,266 Broom Aug. 25, 1891 2,607,921 Jones Aug. 26, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 608,988 Canada Nov. 22, 1960 1,190,250 France Mar. 31, 1959

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SHIRT-LIKE FRONT-OPENING GARMENT HAVING ANECKLINE, INNER AND OUTER FRONT GARMENT PORTIONS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIALEXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM NECKLINE PARTS OF THE PORTIONS AND HAVINGUPRIGHT BOUNDING EDGES AND ADAPTED FOR THEIR MUTUAL OVERLAPPING ACROSSAN UPRIGHT FRONT CENTRAL LINE OF THE CLOSED GARMENT, WITH SAID EDGES OFTHE PORTIONS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID GARMENT FRONT LINE;MEANS FOR DISENGAGINGLY CONNECTING SAID FRONT GARMENT PORTIONS IN SAIDOVERLAPPED RALATION; A MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL PROVIDING ARECTANGULAR ZONE OF DECORATIVE MATTER BETWEEN SIDE EDGE PORTIONS OF THEMEMBER AND DISPOSED OPPOSITE AND AGAINST THE OUTER FACE OF SAID OUTERGARMENT PORTION IN LATERALLY CENTERED RELATION TO SAID CENTRAL FRONTLINE OF THE GARMENT; ONE OF THE MEMBER EDGE PORTIONS BEING FOLDED UNDERTHE MEMBER AND ATTACHED TO THE EXPOSED OUTER FACE OF THE OUTER GARMENTPORTION WHILE THE OTHER MEMBER EDGE PORTION IS FOLDED UNDER THE BOUNDINGEDGE OF THE OUTER GARMENT PORTION; AND A MEANS ATTACHING SAID MEMBEREDGE PORTIONS TO SAID OUTER GARMENT FRONT PORTION TO HAVE ITS DECORATIVEZONE EXTEND LATERALLY FROM SAID BOUNDING EDGE OF THE FRONT GARMENTPORTION, WITH SAID ATTACHING MEANS COMPRISING LINES OF CONCEALEDSTITCHING.